Vehicle-tongue support.



PATENTED MAR. s. 1908. G. P. BELL. VEHICLE TONGUE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION IILED AUG 5 1907 l w n w attmmeg;

wit-names GEORGE FRANCIS BELL, OF SISTERSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

VEHICLE-TONGUE SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed August 5. 1907. Serial No. 387.095.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FRANCIS BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sistersville, in the county of Tyler and State of West Vir inia, have invented a new and useful Vehic e-Tongue Support, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle tongue supports.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of vehicle tongue supports, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one of great strength and durability, adapted to be readily applied to a wagon or similar vehicle without perforating or otherwise weakening the tongue, and capable of forming a support for the same to relieve the necks of the draft animals of the weight of a heavy pole or tongue.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a reverse plan view of a portion of a running gear provided with a ton ue support constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawbracket or support 1, and it is retained in,

engagement with the same by the said stud. The tension of the spring prevents the rear end of the same from becoming accidentally disengaged from the stud.

The tongue 5, which is pivotally mounted on a transverse rod or bolt 6, between the front terminals of the front hounds 7 in the usual manner, is provided with a front bracket or support 8, having a slightly inclined top plate 9 and provided with a depending vertical arm 10, from which projects a horizontally disposed screw 1 1.

The top plate, which extends in advance and in rear of the vertical arm 10, is secured to the lower face of the tongue by means of a clip 12. The clip, which'is approximately U-shaped, embraces the tongue and engages the rear portion of the said plate 9, which is provided in the lower face of its rearwardly projecting portion with a transversely disposed groove 13 to receive the clip, whereby the clip is interlocked with the bracket. The clip 12 is provided with the usual clip plate 15 and nuts 16. By this construction, the bracket or support 8 is secured to the tongue without perforating or otherwise weakening the same.

The screw or threaded stem 11, which is formed integral with the depending vertical arm '10, extends rearwardly therefrom and receives a cylindrical nut or sleeve 17, provided at its front with a head and having a reduced rear portion 18, which fits within the front end of the spring 4. The spring bears against the head or enlarged portion ofthe nut and the latter is adapted to be V rotated to vary the tension of the spring and to raise or lower the tongue or pole 5. The front and rear brackets or supports are spaced apart, and the spring, which extends longitudinally of the running gear, is detachably interlocked with the said supports, and may be readily removed when desired. The tongue may be swung upwardly to relieve the spring of strain and to enable the same to be detached, or replaced in position. The spring forms a yieldable connection between the tongue and the front axle, and is adapted to relieve the necks of the draft animals of the weight of the tongue or pole.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vehicle tongue support comprising a rear support designed to be mounted on a running gear in rear of the tongue and provided with a forwardly projecting stud, a

front support having means for securing it to the tongue and depending therefrom and provided with a rearwardly projecting threaded stem, a nut adjustable along the stem, and a coiled spring having its rear end fitted on the said stud and receiving the threaded stem within its front end and engaged by the said nut. Y

2. A tongue support comprising a rear support having a projecting stud, a coiled spring having its rear end fitted on the stud, a front support consisting of a top plate, a depending arm, and a threaded stem extending rearwardly from the arm and'into thefront portion of the coiled spring, means engagiingthe top plate of the front support for securing the same to a vehicle tongue, and a nut mounted on the threaded stem and having a reduced portion receiving the front end of the spring.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE FRANCIS BELL.

Witnesses:

E. J. QUIGLEY, J. P. SWEENEY. 

